LMDE and Broadcom driver

Archived topics about LMDE 1 and LMDE 2
ptyxs
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LMDE and Broadcom driver

Post by ptyxs »

Hi,
I just installed Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE).
Though wired internet connexion works fine, I cannot see my wifi network on the network manager and did not find any way to get wifi connexion.
My wifi card is Broadcom :

Code: Select all

~$ lspci | grep -i broadc
03:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM43227 802.11b/g/n
I installed firmware-b43-installer.

What do you suggest ? Thanks.
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 4 times in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
ptyxs
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Re: LMDE and Broadcom driver

Post by ptyxs »

Well, no hint ?
I read this thread :
No Internet with Broadcom BCM4318
and tried what was suggested therein, but without any result.
Monsta
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Re: LMDE and Broadcom driver

Post by Monsta »

You can try the proprietary driver for your device. Debian wiki has some info on installing it.
ptyxs
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Re: LMDE and Broadcom driver

Post by ptyxs »

Interesting, but is it advisable to install debian repositories on linux Mint ?
Last edited by ptyxs on Sat Jan 04, 2014 7:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
Monsta
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Re: LMDE and Broadcom driver

Post by Monsta »

I can't read that language :shock:
ptyxs
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Re: LMDE and Broadcom driver

Post by ptyxs »

Sorry, was half asleep it seems. Corrrected.
Monsta
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Re: LMDE and Broadcom driver

Post by Monsta »

You don't need to use Debian repositories. The needed packages are in LMDE repos.
ptyxs
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Re: LMDE and Broadcom driver

Post by ptyxs »

Fine ! It works now. Thank you very much.
ptyxs
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Re: LMDE and Broadcom driver

Post by ptyxs »

Hmm... I upgraded LMDE (taking care of the instructions in the post-it), and then again my wifi is down...
I retried the process in the link given above I had successfully used before... but this time modprobe wl gave a message saying that the wl module was not available...
Monsta
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Re: LMDE and Broadcom driver

Post by Monsta »

That's strange. Actually, you don't have to repeat the whole process: once broadcom-sta-dkms is installed, the needed kernel module will be rebuilt on every kernel upgrade. You can also rebuild it manually. Try this:

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sudo dpkg-reconfigure broadcom-sta-dkms
ptyxs
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Re: LMDE and Broadcom driver

Post by ptyxs »

Code: Select all

$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure broadcom-sta-dkms
[sudo] password for glinux: 

-------- Uninstall Beginning --------
Module:  broadcom-sta
Version: 5.100.82.112
Kernel:  3.2.0-4-amd64 (x86_64)
-------------------------------------

Status: Before uninstall, this module version was ACTIVE on this kernel.

wl.ko:
 - Uninstallation
   - Deleting from: /lib/modules/3.2.0-4-amd64/updates/dkms/
 - Original module
   - No original module was found for this module on this kernel.
   - Use the dkms install command to reinstall any previous module version.

depmod......

Backing up initrd.img-3.2.0-4-amd64 to /boot/initrd.img-3.2.0-4-amd64.old-dkms
Making new initrd.img-3.2.0-4-amd64
(If next boot fails, revert to initrd.img-3.2.0-4-amd64.old-dkms image)
update-initramfs....

DKMS: uninstall completed.

------------------------------
Deleting module version: 5.100.82.112
completely from the DKMS tree.
------------------------------
Done.
Loading new broadcom-sta-5.100.82.112 DKMS files...
Building only for 3.10-2-amd64
Building initial module for 3.10-2-amd64
Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 3.10-2-amd64 (x86_64)
Consult /var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/5.100.82.112/build/make.log for more information.
Traitement des actions différées (« triggers ») pour « initramfs-tools »...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.10-2-amd64
And the illuminating content of make.log :

Code: Select all

$ less /var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/5.100.82.112/build/make.log 
DKMS make.log for broadcom-sta-5.100.82.112 for kernel 3.10-2-amd64 (x86_64)
dimanche 5 janvier 2014, 12:20:26 (UTC+0100)
/bin/sh: 1: [: Illegal number: 
/bin/sh: 1: [: Illegal number: 
Wireless Extension is the only possible API for this kernel version
Using Wireless Extension API
KBUILD_NOPEDANTIC=1 make -C /lib/modules/3.10-2-amd64/build M=/var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/5.100.82.112/build
make[1]: entrant dans le répertoire « /usr/src/linux-headers-3.10-2-amd64 »
CFG80211 API is prefered for this kernel version
Using CFG80211 API
Kernel architecture is X86_64
  LD      /var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/5.100.82.112/build/built-in.o
  CC [M]  /var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/5.100.82.112/build/src/shared/linux_osl.o
  CC [M]  /var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/5.100.82.112/build/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.o
/var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/5.100.82.112/build/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c: In function ‘wl_tkip_printstats’:
/var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/5.100.82.112/build/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c:2975:7: warning: passing argument 1 of ‘wl->tkipmodops->print_stats’ from incompatible pointer type [enabled by default]
/var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/5.100.82.112/build/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c:2975:7: note: expected ‘struct seq_file *’ but argument is of type ‘char *’
/var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/5.100.82.112/build/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c:2978:4: warning: passing argument 1 of ‘wl->tkipmodops->print_stats’ from incompatible pointer type [enabled by default]
/var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/5.100.82.112/build/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c:2978:4: note: expected ‘struct seq_file *’ but argument is of type ‘char *’
/var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/5.100.82.112/build/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c: In function ‘wl_reg_proc_entry’:
/var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/5.100.82.112/build/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c:3185:2: error: implicit declaration of function ‘create_proc_entry’ [-Werror=implicit-function-declaration]
/var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/5.100.82.112/build/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c:3185:22: warning: assignment makes pointer from integer without a cast [enabled by default]
/var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/5.100.82.112/build/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c:3190:16: error: dereferencing pointer to incomplete type
/var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/5.100.82.112/build/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c:3191:16: error: dereferencing pointer to incomplete type
/var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/5.100.82.112/build/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.c:3192:16: error: dereferencing pointer to incomplete type
cc1: some warnings being treated as errors
make[4]: *** [/var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/5.100.82.112/build/src/wl/sys/wl_linux.o] Erreur 1
make[3]: *** [_module_/var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/5.100.82.112/build] Erreur 2
make[2]: *** [sub-make] Erreur 2
make[1]: *** [all] Erreur 2
make[1]: quittant le répertoire « /usr/src/linux-headers-3.10-2-amd64 »
make: *** [all] Erreur 2
Monsta
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Re: LMDE and Broadcom driver

Post by Monsta »

Looks like this bug. You need to get the newer version of broadcom-sta-dkms from Debian Testing repo.
ptyxs
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Re: LMDE and Broadcom driver

Post by ptyxs »

Thanks again : you seem to have found out the source of the problem.
Of special interest is this message by the maintainer of broadcom-sta-common in the link you pointed to above :
http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugrepor ... =716999#69
Unfortunaltely, synaptics - even with all the repositories activated - just offers a 'bad' version of broadcom-sta-dkms (5.100.82.112-9). The supposedly 'good' one (6.30.223.141) may be found here :
http://www.broadcom.com/support/802.11/linux_sta.php
along with detailed instructions for installation in the README file.
I did'nt try the installation yet.
Monsta
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Re: LMDE and Broadcom driver

Post by Monsta »

Don't forget that you need to refresh the list of packages in Synaptic after you've added or removed any repositories :)

What repositories did you add? Please post the output of these commands:

Code: Select all

inxi -r

Code: Select all

apt-cache policy broadcom-sta-dkms
ptyxs
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Re: LMDE and Broadcom driver

Post by ptyxs »

Monsta wrote:Don't forget that you need to refresh the list of packages in Synaptic after you've added or removed any repositories :)
Of course...
Monsta wrote: What repositories did you add?
In synaptic interface, I checked : Backported packages, Unstable packages, and Code Source (and the default main, upstream and imported).

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~ $ inxi -r
Repos:     Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list
           deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ debian main upstream import backport romeo
           deb-src http://packages.linuxmint.com/ debian main upstream import backport romeo #Added by software-properties
           deb http://lmde-mirror.gwendallebihan.net/latest testing main contrib non-free
           deb http://lmde-mirror.gwendallebihan.net/latest/security testing/updates main contrib non-free
           deb http://lmde-mirror.gwendallebihan.net/latest/multimedia testing main non-free

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~ $ sudo    apt-cache policy broadcom-sta-dkms
broadcom-sta-dkms:
  Installé : 5.100.82.112-9
  Candidat : 5.100.82.112-9
 Table de version :
 *** 5.100.82.112-9 0
        500 http://lmde-mirror.gwendallebihan.net/latest/ testing/non-free amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

Monsta
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Re: LMDE and Broadcom driver

Post by Monsta »

ptyxs wrote:In synaptic interface, I checked : Backported packages, Unstable packages, and Code Source (and the default main, upstream and imported).
:shock: What for? These don't have anything to do with Debian Testing repositories.

  1. Add Debian Testing repositories to your sources list:

    Code: Select all

    su -c 'echo deb http://http.debian.net/debian testing main contrib non-free > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-testing.list'
  2. Update the package index:

    Code: Select all

    sudo apt-get update
  3. Upgrade broadcom-sta-dkms:

    Code: Select all

    sudo apt-get install broadcom-sta-dkms
  4. Remove Debian Testing repositories from your sources list:

    Code: Select all

    sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-testing.list
  5. Update the package index once again:

    Code: Select all

    sudo apt-get update
hbco2

Re: LMDE and Broadcom driver

Post by hbco2 »

Added the Debian repo per your instructions, The broadcom-sta-dkms package attempted to compile, but didn't
succeed. The last part of the make.log is shown below. Not sure what to do next,
should I run make in this directory?
wbs@hbnb /var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/6.30.223.141/source $ ls
dkms.conf lib Makefile src

cat /var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/6.30.223.141/3.10-2-amd64/x86_64/log/make.log
.........
CFG80211 API is prefered for this kernel version
Using CFG80211 API
Kernel architecture is X86_64
MODPOST 1 modules
WARNING: modpost: Found 1 section mismatch(es).
To see full details build your kernel with:
'make CONFIG_DEBUG_SECTION_MISMATCH=y'
CC /var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/6.30.223.141/build/wl.mod.o
LD [M] /var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/6.30.223.141/build/wl.ko
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.10-2-amd64'

Bill
ptyxs
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Re: LMDE and Broadcom driver

Post by ptyxs »

Monsta wrote: Add Debian Testing repositories to your sources list:

Code: Select all

su -c 'echo deb http://http.debian.net/debian testing main contrib non-free > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-testing.list'
The output of inxi -r given above in my preceding message seems to say that these reporitories are added (see lines after comment : #Added by software properties...
Monsta
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Re: LMDE and Broadcom driver

Post by Monsta »

hbco2 wrote:Added the Debian repo per your instructions, The broadcom-sta-dkms package attempted to compile, but didn't
succeed.
Were there any error messages?
hbco2 wrote:

Code: Select all

  CC      /var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/6.30.223.141/build/wl.mod.o
  LD [M]  /var/lib/dkms/broadcom-sta/6.30.223.141/build/wl.ko
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.10-2-amd64'
These lines indicate that build succeeded. Not sure why you thought it failed.

ptyxs wrote:The output of inxi -r given above in my preceding message seems to say that these reporitories are added (see lines after comment : #Added by software properties...
:shock:
I see

Code: Select all

deb http://lmde-mirror.gwendallebihan.net/latest testing main contrib non-free
I don't see

Code: Select all

deb http://http.debian.net/debian testing main contrib non-free
ptyxs
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Re: LMDE and Broadcom driver

Post by ptyxs »

@Monsta : I executed your instructions, everything worked well, without any error message, and after reboot I finally got a wifi connexion.

Thank you very much for your detailed answers.

My next step will be to study the repositories management system in Debian and LMDE :D
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